Judge Rules Hartford Council Cannot Remove Registrars

Judge rules Hartford's city council doesn't have the power to oust registrars.

HARTFORD — Two hours before the city council planned to start removal hearings for Hartford's three registrars of voters, a Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that it doesn't have the power to oust the elected officials.

Judge Constance Epstein said that the council can't take any further steps to remove the registrars — Democrat Olga Vazquez and Republican Sheila Hall — from office. The third registrar, Working Families Party member Urania Petit, had also filed for an injunction to stop the removal hearings but withdrew her case before the ruling Tuesday. She submitted her resignation Tuesday morning, council members said, after reaching a settlement with the city.

Council members did not disclose the settlement amount, but sources with knowledge of the situation said that Petit would be paid $50,000. The agreement must still be approved by the city council.

"This is a victory, not only for Registrar Vazquez, but also a victory for all of the voters that voted for her," Richard Padykula, one of her attorneys, said Tuesday. "We're incredibly pleased with the well-reasoned decision by the court."

"We fought and we won," added Corey Brinson, Hall's attorney. "While many may be upset about what happened on Election Day, that issue is for the voters to decide at Election Day what should happen to their elected officials. It is not for other elected officials to impose what they think should happen, particularly when they don't have the legal authority to do so."

The registrars, who each make about $80,000 a year, hold elected positions. Vazquez and Petit were elected, and Hall was appointed to the position in 2013 after former Republican Registrar Salvatore Bramante retired.

Epstein said Tuesday that Hartford's current charter doesn't give city officials the authority to remove the registrars, and doesn't include a provision that would allow them to appeal a removal.

A hearing scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, at which the registrars were to present evidence and call witnesses in their defense, was canceled.

Ross Garber, an attorney for the council, did not say whether the city would appeal Epstein's decision. "We'll evaluate it and decide our next steps," he said.

Council members, who sought to remove the registrars following issues on Election Day that caused polling places to open late, expressed disappointment at the ruling Tuesday.

"We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure that all residents of Hartford are able to vote and that those votes are counted," Council President Shawn Wooden said in a prepared statement. "We disagree with the judge's decision and are evaluating our options."

People were unable to vote at as many as 10 polling locations when they opened at 6 a.m. on Election Day because the voter lists were not delivered on time. Voters waited more than an hour at some polling places, and some left without voting, prompting the Democratic Party to seek extended hours.

A Superior Court judge eventually ordered that two polling places remain open.

The council in the fall had authorized an investigation into the registrars' office. The investigating committee issued a scathing report in January that described the office as a toxic, dysfunctional work environment in which officials barely communicate with each other. The report also noted that the accuracy of Hartford's final vote tally was in doubt.

"As respectful citizens of the law, we must obey the decision made by the judge," said Councilman Joel Cruz. "Nonetheless, by keeping in mind the findings of the [investigating committee], it is extremely important to be very attentive to all processes/actions generated from the [registrar of voters'] office."

Mayor Pedro Segarra also was dismayed. "The decision is disappointing, but I will continue to work with city council to explore all options that protect Hartford's voters," he said.

Petit said late Tuesday that she was grateful for the judge's ruling. She thanked Hartford residents for the opportunity to serve as registrar.

"I have known since Election Day that the problems with voting in Hartford were not my fault," she said. "I have also known since then that the city council's politically motivated efforts to remove me and my colleagues were improper. … This unfair experience has been very unpleasant to me personally and disrespectful to the voters of Hartford. And, so earlier today, I reached an agreement with the city that allows me to take advantage of other opportunities that have been offered to me.

"I thank the people of Hartford for the opportunity to have served as your registrar, and I look forward to serving you again in the future."

On Monday, a bill that would have allowed Hartford to appoint a single, nonpartisan registrar of voters died in committee in the state legislature. The bill was introduced by Rep. Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford.